Quote: (02-08-2016 08:50 AM)Schlep Wrote:
Hey Brodiaga
How would you compare jakarta and cebu?
How do you think a guy like me who relies on day game would do?
Excellent reporting from boots on the ground
I have a bit more time now, so here is a comparison of Jakarta, Manila and Cebu. All the three cities are great for game and adventure. I would recommend visiting all of them.
Jakarta
+ The best looking girls available to the average white guy. I can't speak for Middle Eastern, Asian or Black guys from experience, but I've seen all of them pull girls pretty easily as well. Manila is second when it comes to looks of attainable girls, Cebu is a distant third.
+ The best nightlife. They say it's not what it used to be, but it's still fucking insane. Two bad things about nightlife in Jakarta: drinks are expensive (around $10 per drink or more) and clubs and bars are spread out all over the city, so you need to take a taxi everywhere.
+ Relatively inexpensive. I managed to find a nice apartment on AirBnb near Grand Indo for around $30 per night. I was lucky and got a discount, but $40 is definitely doable for a nice apartment with great logistics. A similar place in a similar area in Manila would be much more expensive. In Cebu, the prices are comparable. Everything else in Jakarta, except for alcohol, is cheap as well, at least at the current exchange rate.
+ Jakarta seems much safer than both Manila and Cebu except for places like the Fort and IT Park in these two cities respectively. Look up violent crime statistics in these 3 cities - there is a huge difference. However, I've had some of my stuff stolen in Jakarta, but never in the Philippines.
+ Indo girls seem more responsible than girls in the Phils when it comes to practicing safe sex. All the girls I had on my last trip asked about condoms and would have probably refused sex if I didn't have them or didn't want to use them.
- The worst traffic in the world as rated by experts, and I agree with them 100%. Stay central and consider traffic when planning trips, dates and getting to/from the airport. You can easily get stuck even near your place at a random hour so that even walking would be faster than driving.
- Not only alcohol is expensive, it is not available at most grocery and convenience stores. They used to sell beer and Smirnoff Ice there two years ago, but not anymore. I brought 1 liter of vodka with me and was also lucky to find a convenience store in my building where they sell a very limited selection of beer.
- It is a third world city which is chaotic and inhospitable even compared to other big cities in SEA. In Manila and Cebu, Greenbelt and Ayala shopping malls have nice green spaces and outdoor bar areas, and there are also new, first world-style neighborhoods - Fort Bonifacio and IT Park. I have not seen anything like that in Jakarta. I have never been to any places in Jakarta where I could just relax, grab a beer and enjoy the scenery. The best bars and restaurants are inside high end shopping malls, but once you walk out of there, there is nothing interesting at all. I saw the main tourist sights in Jakarta and didn't like any of the places I visited.
- In many bars and restaurants, even if they are high end, there is something that totally kills the vibe - loud/shitty music, too hot, too bright, or all of the above. The owners and staff just don't seem to get it, don't know how to create a good ambiance. Similar places in the Philippines are much better when it comes to these small details.
Manila
+ Fort Bonifacio is like a little first world country with all the benefits of SEA. Makati near Greenbelt is pretty good as well. I could see myself living in the Fort and enjoying life, maybe even for a few years.
+ No language barrier: many well educated girls who speak excellent English. Street signs, menus, bank documents, even utility bills - all in English.
+ Many attractive and feminine girls looking for a foreigner, though a lot more foreigners than in Jakarta chasing them as well.
+ Many RVFers there - both residents and visitors.
- More violence, feels unsafe outside of the safe zones.
- More expensive than Jakarta and Cebu.
- I didn't like the nightlife based on my limited experience. I've been to Valkerie, Exclusiv, Time, Gramercy and a couple more places. Jakarta clubs are in a different league when it comes to night game.
Cebu
+ Cheap accommodation, food and drinks. Even drinks at clubs are cheap.
+ Smaller city, easy to get around. All the main spots are close to each other.
+ Most of the nightlife is concentrated in Mango Square. Just bounce from one place to another.
+ Ayala mall is very nice, so is IT Park. I can see myself living in IT park or right next to Ayala long term.
+ Bohol is 1.5 hr ferry ride away. Many other nice beaches and nature spots close to Cebu as well.
- Girls are the ugliest compared to Jakarta and Manila. Even moderately attractive girls are difficult to find. Lack of eligible girls on Tinder as well.
- Night game: easy to pull from Mango Square, but the quality is lacking compared to Jakarta or Manila, except for Korean girls, but they seem out of reach for non-Koreans.
- The city feels unsafe outside of Ayala Mall and IT Park. For example, multiple reports of robberies around Mango Square.